It’s May now, which means the school year is winding down, pools will be opening soon, and there will be a lot of time spent outdoors. The shift from spring to summer is underway and there will be many hot days ahead. You’ll want to make sure your air conditioner is in good working order.
The last thing you want is a broken air conditioner on a sweltering day. One of the things you can do to prevent this is by cleaning your air conditioner. Keep reading to learn how to clean an air conditioner and stay cool this summer.
1. Deactivate the Power Supply
Before you can begin AC maintenance, you should turn off the power to your system. Trying to clean an air conditioner while it’s running is dangerous. To shut it off, look for the service panel on the exterior condenser or compressor.
If you have trouble finding the service panel, shut the system down via your breaker box.
2. Clean or Replace the Filter
One of the essential steps in AC cleaning is cleaning the filter. It’s an easy thing to do and shouldn’t take long. The first thing you need to do is determine if your air conditioner’s filters are reusable.
If your filters aren’t reusable, you’ll need to replace them. The filters should be in the furnace or air-handler cabinets near the air-inlet side. Cleaning your air filters maintains proper airflow in your system.
You should clean them twice a year. Sanitize them or replace them when they become clogged with dirt, hair, or dust.
3. How to Clean an Air Conditioner Coil
To clean the condenser coils, you’ll need to remove the protective grilles from the top and sides of the condenser unit. You can do this with a screwdriver or a nut driver. When you remove the top, avoid tugging any wires connected to the fan.
Use a soft brush to begin cleaning the coils from outside the unit. Be careful when you clean them; you need to avoid bending the fins and coils, which are delicate. Once you’ve brushed the coils from the outside, vacuum them from the inside.
To remove dirt from the condenser coils, you can spray a coil cleaner from the inside. Do not spray the fan or other electrical components. You can also use a hose with a trigger nozzle to remove dirt from the inside.
To avoid getting water on the electrical components, cover them with a trash bag.
4. Clean the Condenser
Remove dirt and debris from the base of the condenser. If your condenser has a drain, remove any dirt and grime.
Clean the blower’s fan blades with a vacuum and a rag. If you see loose mounting bolts, fasten them. If the fan motor has oil ports, apply oil or spray some WD-40.
5. Check the Refrigerant Lines
Foam insulation covers the refrigerant lines on your air conditioner. They prevent the lines from losing energy.
If the insulation has any damage, replace it to enhance the lines’ efficiency. You can use foam insulation or insulation tape for this.
Maintaining Your HVAC System, Appliances, and Electrical System
Cleaning your air conditioner is simple overall. It’s a necessary precaution to prevent you from spending money on repairs. However, sometimes problems will arise even with home maintenance.
At Sewell Electric & HVAC, we can do more than tell you how to clean an air conditioner. We can keep your HVAC system, appliances, and electrical system in top condition. If something goes wrong in your home, contact us so we can fix it.
